Vehicle lift



2 Sheets-Sheet l VEHICLE, LIFT L. C. STUKENBORG Filed June 26, 1935 Nov. 23, 1937.

Nov. 23, 1937. 1 c. STUKNBORG 2,099,775

VEHICLE LIFT Filed June 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 .,M 232mm 7 m/ /M tu www Lua/@L M M Z. w 3 I @f ,l 6 t W K/ :1: am if Z i fw Z i@ @a 4 \\\.\W% V/J 5 1 M /W/ X\` Patented Nov. 23, i933 p I *I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vEmoLE LIFT Louis C. Stnkenborg, Memphis, Tenn. Application June 26, 1935, seal No. 28,421' c'olaims. (o1. en -52) 'I'his invention relates to improvements in hythe same scale as Fig. 3, showing'the plunger oi draulic vehicle lifts and particularly to that class the lift in fully raised position. of such lifts in which the lifting fluid is pumped Referring now to the drawings in which the from an extraneous reservoir to a jack having a various parts are indicated by numerals,l III is vertically disposed cylinder with a plunger therea vertical cylinder adapted to be buried in the in, and in which the liquid is forced back into ground. Il is a head secured as by welding in the reservoir by the descent of the plunger and the bottom end of the cylinder. I2 is a plunger the superstructure carried thereby. slidably mounted within the cylinder and guided This invention has been illustrated in connecin its movements by guide rings I3, I4, 'securedtion with a lift table or superstructure for raisto the cylinder wall. Surrounding the plunger at l0 ing automobiles for servicing and as is'usual in the upper end of the cylinder is a stuilng box I5 such construction, is shown with the cylinder having upper and lower sets of packing, I6 and and other parts of the lift proper below the sur- I'I respectively, which sets are separated by a face of the ground. ring I8 of generally I shapedcross section. The

The objectsof the invention are: lower packing I1 rests in the bottom of the stuI- 15 To provide a jack and a reservoir and pump ng box I5, which bottom is shown in part unit adjacent thereto, and integrally connected formed by the guide ring I3. The bottom flange therewith, whereby the jack, reservoir and pumpof the ring I8 rests on the lower packing I'I, the ing unit are a self-contained device which may upper packing I6 rests on the upper ange of n0 be installed as a single entity. the ring I8 and the two packlngs and ring` are 20 To provide means in such a unit whereby the held in place and compressed by a gland I9 tightpump is at all times submerged and the dis cned in usual manner as by bolts 20. Mounted charge passageway from the pump to the jack on the upper end' of the plunger is a superstruccylinder is of minimum length. ture for the support of the load to be raised.

To provide over-flow means whereby leakage Thisstructure may comprise a plate 2|, channel 25 is substantially prevented from the top oi the members 22 secured thereto as by welding, an cylinder. additional pair of I beams 23 (only one oi' To provide over-flow means whereby the maxiwhich is shown) which are transversely disposed murn raise of the jack plunger is hydraulically to the channels 22 and secured thereto as by bolts limited. K 2d, and wheel supporting rails 25 suitably se- 30 To provide, in connection with pumping means, Cured to the I beams 23. The web of the ring release means for allowing return flow from the I8 being 0f less thickness than the Width 0f the jack cylinder to the reservoir and screening flanges, leaves within the stuiing box I5, inner means in connectionntherewith, whereby the reand outer annular spaces 26 and 2l, communiverse flow alternately set up by pumping and recation between which spaces is established by 35 lease automatically clears the screens protect- Openings 28'thr011gh the Wb ing inflow to the pump. The plunger is preferably hollow and has a. To provide in a jack means for preventing rolower head 29 which is disposed at a distance tation of the plunger relative to the cylinder. above the bottom end 0f the plunger SOmWhB-C The means by which these and other objects greater than the distance between the bottom of 40 are accomplished and the manner of their acthe lower guide ring I4 and the tops of the ancomplishrnent1 will readily be understood from nular space 26. Openings 3@ are provided the following specication on reference to the through the wall, of the plunger immediately beaccompanying drawings in which, low the head 29 so that when the plunger is Fig. l is a vertical sectional elevation through fully raised in use, the openings 30 will come into 45 the cylinder and plunger of a hydraulic jack and register with the inner annular space 26 and` through an associated reservoir and pumping through the openings 28, be in communication unit. with the outer annular space 21. 3| is an over- Fig, 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on a flow pipe which leads through the outer wall of somewhat reduced scale showing the exterior of the stuffing box I5 from the outer annular 50 the jack cylinder and of the reservoir with the space 2.

two more closely adjacent than shown in lig. l. The plunger I2 preferably is held against ro- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan on an tation. To do this a suitable opening is made enlarged scale taken on the line III of Fig. l. in the head 29 and a pipe 32 is secured and sealed' oa Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on to the plunger head 29 around this opening and 55 extended upward adjacent the top of the plunger, the upper end 33 of this pipe being sealed. Secured to the bottom II of the cylinder and extending upward therewithin and slidably within the pipe 32, is a guide rod 34, this rod and the pipe 32 both being offset from .the center of the plunger and cooperating to prevent rotation of the plunger.

Adjacent the cylinder I2 is a tank 40 preferably cylindrical in shape -and, substantially coextensive in height with the cylinder I0, including its stuillng box. This tank is preferably placed immediately adjacent the cylinder I4 but in order that its upper end may be made accessible under all conditions it has been shown in Fig. 1 as slightly spaced therefrom so that it may not be covered by superstructure parts. In F'ig. 2 a modification is shown in which the tank 48A is more nearly adjacent the cylinder IIIA, this having been accomplished by disposing over the plunger I 2A a channel shaped plate 2IA of reduced width as compared with the plate structure first shown, and'cutting away portions of the flange of the gland I8A.

Thelower end ofthe tank 40 is closed by a head 4I and spaced above this head is an annular flange 42. Resting on this flange and secured and sealed thereto'as by bolts 43 and nuts 44 is the ilange 45 of-a pump 46. The pump flange 45 and the annular flange 42 cooperate to divide the tank 40 into an upper chamber or reservoir 41 and a comparatively restricted lower chamber 48, the lower chamber 48 being in free communicaf tion through a pipe 48 with the ilower end of the pump'cylinder I8.

The bolts 48 which are used to 'secure the flange `45 to the annular flange 42 preferably extend upward toward lthe top of the reservoir 4I) and form guides by means of which the pump 46 may be lowered into proper position prior to securing its flange 45 in place. Preferably `such extending bolt portions are not threaded, the lower ends only being enlarged and threaded in usual manner. Also the upper ends of the rods may be threaded to receive support nuts 50; 5I is an annular steady plate adapted to be supported on these nuts and 52 are nuts securing the plate in place. 88 is a pump shaft which is connected at its upper end by a coupling 6I to the shaft 62 of an electric motor 63.

',I'he motor 63 is suitably supported as by a plate 64 to which it may be secured as by bolts 65, the plate 64 being adapted to be supported on an annular flange 66, preferably welded to the casing 40, and to be secured thereto as by bolts 51. Preferably an annular shell 68 is secured to the underside of the plate 64 as by welding and depends therefrom around the motor 63, the annular shell 68 together with the plate 64 to which it is secured, forming a bell entirely surrounding the motor and depending therebelow. From the motor suitable circuit wires 10 lead through the plate 64, being hermetically sealed where they pass therethrough, and through a suitable conduit 1I to a control switch 12 located at a convenient point suitably remote from the lift structure. The intake to the pump 46 leads from the chamber 41 through a suitable screen 13 and the discharge from the pump through a screen 14 below the flange 45 and within the chamber 48. Disposed within the casing of the pump 46 is a release valve 15A, which m-ay be opened by depressing the rod 15. The rod 15 leads to the top nf the reservoir and there terminates beneath an rrm 16 which is mounted on a shaft 11 ldisposed 'floor which surrounds the unit.

within a protecting pipe 18. The shaft 11 preierably extends to some distance remote from the lift structure and is provided with an additional arm "I8 by which it may be turned to actuate the arm 16 and depress the rod 15.

The over-flow pipe II leading from the stuffing box I5 is connected into the reservoir portion 41 of the tank 4I). 80 is a filling pipe which is provided with a removable cap 8l. This pipe may lead into any portion of the reservoir chamber 41, but is shown as leading in through the overflow pipe 3i. In Fig. 2 the pipe corresponding to the pipe 3l is given the numeral 3IAand' the other corresponding parts are also designated by the addition of the same letter A.

It will be understood that the detail of the pump and motor, and of the control switch form no part of the present'invention and arel therefore not shown.

It will further be understood that the remaining detail except as it may be speciflcally set out in any claim is also typical oniyand introduced for the purpose of illustration.

In constructing the device the" cylinder I8 and the tank 48 are assembled into a unitary structure.

Preferably after completion of the cylinder the overilow pipe 3| and the pipe 48 are secured thereto as by welding, and these pipes are also secured to the tank 4l in similar manner. Should the pipe 48A as in the modified form shown in Fig. 2 be too short to permit access between the cylinder and tank for welding, such welding may bedone from the interior of the tank before the tank bottom 4I -is welded in place.

'I'o install, a hole of suitable sire is excavated and preferably a concrete foundation 82 placed in the bottom as a support. 'I'he cylinder unit and tank unit is lowered into place, the jack cylinder being brought truly vertical and ordinarily the earth back-filled and tamped to hold the unit in such position. When in place concrete 88 is ordinarily poured around the upper end of the unit, this concrete being usually a part of the After the cyl-l inder and tank unit has been placed, the plunger I2 is placed in the Jack cylinder, the packing and other parts placed in the stufilng box and tightened, and the superstructure installed If the pump is not in place in the reservoir the holes in the flange 45 lof the pump are engaged with the ends of the guide rods 43, and the pump is lowered by means of the pump shaft 60, to place on` the annular flange 42, a suitable packing gasket (not shown) having been interposed. When in place the nuts 44 are dropped over the rods 43 and thereafter tightened by a suitable socket wrench. With the pump in place the upper ends of the rods 43 may be engaged by the annular steady plate 5l, and this plate be secured by the nuts 52 to steady the upper end of such guide rods. The motor 63 is then lowered to place and the two parts of the coupling 6I engaged. The plate 64 is bolted down to the flange 66 and a cover plate 83 placed and secured.

The reservoir 41 is then partially filled with oil and with the filling cap 8| still removed, the pump is operated to fill the chamber 48, the lower end of the piston and the cylinder I0 around the plunger. The operation of the pump is continued, additional oil being added if found necessary until the plunger is raised to full height, this height being limited by register of the holes 38 with the annular space 26, and entrained air in the cylinder and plunger are allowed to escape to the atmosphere, until all air has been fully expelled. Pumping is then stopped and the plunger lowered by sluiting the lever i9 and depressing the rod l to open the release valve. Preferably such excess of oil is placed in .the reservoir as to fully cover the pump at all times.

What I claim is:

1. In a lift, a jack and a rigidly connected reservoir and pumping unit; said jack comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a plunger slidably mounted therein and projecting thereabove and a superstructure carried by said plunger; said unit comprising a vertically disposed ,tank closely adjacent said cylinder and rigidly secured thereto, said tank being ci substantially equal height with said cylinder and being divided transversely into a lower chamber of restricted height and a relatively much larger reservoir thereabove, passageways respectively connecting said chamber with the lower end of said cylinder and the upper end of said cylinder with said reservoir, means within said tank operable to transfer liquid from said reservoir through said chamber to said cylinder and means for establishing return ilow from said cylinder and chamber to said reservoir, a stuffing box at the upper end of said cylinder,l two sets of packing in said stufilng box, means spacing said packings apart, said means being perforated to permit flow from the interior to the exterior thereof, and said passageway' connecting' said cylinder and reservoir being in communication with the openings through said spacing means. plunger guiding means within said cylinder spaced below said stufhng box, said plunger being hollow from its lower end .upward a distance at least equal to the distance from the bottom of vsaid guiding means to a point midway between said packing means, and said piston having openings adjacent the upper end of said hollow portion through its circumferential wall.

2. In a lift, a jack and a rigidly connected reservoir andpumping unit, said jack comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a plunger slidably mounted therein and projecting thereabove, and a superstructure carried by said plunger; said unit comprising a vertically disposed tank closely 'adjacent said cylinder and rigidly secured thereto, a passageway connecting the upper end of said cylinder with said tank, means within said tank operable to transfer liquid from said tank to said cylinder, and means for establishing return flow from. said cylinder to said tank; a stuiiing box at the upper end of said cylinder, two sets of packing in said stuiling box, means spacing said packings apart, said means having openings to permit flow from the interior to the exterior thereof, and said passageway connecting said cylinder and reservoir being in communication with the openings through said spacing means, plunger guiding means within said cylinder spaced bel-ow said stuffing box, said plunger vbeing hollow roinits lower end upward a distance at least equal to the distance from the bottom of said guiding means to a point between said packing means, and aaid piston having openings adjacent the upper end of said hollow portion through its circumferential wall.

In a iluid actuated iack, comprising a cylinder-plunger assembly, a reservoir for fluid, a pump for transferring uid from said reservoir to said assembly and manually controlled release ir ins for said fluid, said pump having a screened intese from reservoir, and a Screened outlet .to said assembly, said release means lay-passing said pump, and being disposed between said screened intake and said screened outlet and housed by the screens thereof.

4. In a fluid actuated jack, comprising a cylinder-plunger assembly, a reservoir for uid, a pump for transferring fluid from said reservoir to said assembly and release means for said fluid, said pump having a screened intake from said reservoir, and a screened outlet tc said assembly, said release means bypassing said pump, and being disposed between said screened intake and said screened outlet and housed by the screens thereof.,

5. In a lift, a jack a d a connected reservoir and pumping unit; said jack comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a plunger slidably mounted therein and projecting thereabove and a superstructure carried by said plunger; said unit comprising a vertically disposed tank, said tank being divided transversely into a lower chamber of restricted size and a relatively much larger reservoir thereabove, passageways respectively conn necting said chamber with the lower end' of Said cylinder and the upper end of said'cylinder with said reservoir, means within said tank operable to transfer liquid from said reservoir through said chamber Ato said cylinder and means for establishing return viiow from said cylinder and chamber to said reservoir, a stuffing box at the upper end of said cylinder, two sets of packing in said stuffing box, means spacing said packings apart, said means being perforated to permltiiowiromthe interior to the exterior thereof, and said passageway connecting said cylinder and reservoir being in communication with the openings through said spacing means, plunger guiding means within said cylinder spaced below said sturing box, said plunger being hollow from its lower end upward a distance substantially equal to the distance from the bottom of said guiding means to l a point above the lower of said packing means, and said piston having openings adjacent the upper end of said hollow portion curnferential wall.

6. In a.lift, a jack and a connected reservoir and pumping unit, said jack comprising a vertically disposed cylinder, a plunger slidably mounted therein and projecting thereabove, and a superstructure carried by said plunger; said unit comprising a vertically disposed tank, a passageway connecting the upper end of said cylinder with said tank, means within said tank operable to transfer liquid from said tank to said cylinder, and means for establishing return flow from said cylinder to said tank; a stuffing box at the upper end of said cylinder, two sets of packing in said stuiing box, means spacing said packings apart, said means having openings to permit flow from the interior to the exterior thereof, and said passageway connecting said cylinder and reservoir being in communication with the openings through said spacing means, plunger guiding means within said cylinder spaced below said stufiing box, said plunger being hollow from its lower end upward a distance at least equal ,to the distance from the bottom of said guiding means to a point between said packing means, and said piston having openings adjacent the upper end of said hollow portion through its circumferential wall.

LOUIS C. STUKENBORG.

through its cir- 

